BERLIN — Germany’s Vice Chancellor and finance minister Lars Klingbeil has called off the India leg of his planned trip to Asia this week, his ministry announced on Monday, pointing to fast-moving political developments in Berlin.
The German finance minister’s office confirmed the decision in an emailed statement, offering no further detail beyond the current situation. The cancellation comes on the same day that Labour Minister Baerbel Bas, who co-leads the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) alongside Klingbeil, announced she was stepping down from both her government post and her party leadership role.
FAKTA: Berlin leadership shake-up
- What happened: Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil cancelled the India leg of his Asia trip; the rest of the itinerary remains unclear.
- Reason given: The finance ministry cited “current developments” in Berlin, without further explanation.
- Labour minister resigns: Baerbel Bas quit as labour minister and SPD co-leader after the death of her stepdaughter, saying she needs time to grieve.
- Political pressure: Bas also cited intensifying public criticism, including attacks from members of the SPD’s conservative coalition partners.
- Klingbeil’s reaction: He called the attacks against Bas during her mourning “inappropriate” and “unacceptable”.
- Successor named: Alexander Schweitzer, head of the SPD’s parliamentary group in Rhineland-Palatinate, is set to become the new labour minister.
- Bas stays in parliament: She confirmed she will retain her Bundestag mandate for Duisburg.
Bas steps down after personal loss
Bas announced her departure in a statement on Monday, explaining that her stepdaughter’s death had left her in need of time to come to terms with her grief. She also pointed to mounting public attacks on her record as reasons she could no longer continue in both offices.
Her portfolio covers large parts of Germany’s welfare system, including labour-market and pension policies, and her exit leaves several pending reforms without a political driver for now.
Klingbeil responded publicly to her decision, saying he was deeply saddened and condemning the attacks she had faced while mourning. “That is unacceptable,” he said in a statement.
Schweitzer picked as new labour minister
Within hours of Bas’s announcement, an SPD spokesperson told Reuters that Alexander Schweitzer would succeed her as federal labour minister. Schweitzer currently heads the Social Democrats’ parliamentary group in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, where he previously served as state premier.
No date has been set for the formal handover, and it was not immediately clear who would take over Bas’s role as Klingbeil’s co-leader at the head of the party.
Uncertain week for the German finance minister
The twin announcements cap a turbulent stretch for Germany’s governing coalition. Klingbeil now leads the SPD alone for the time being while also managing the finance ministry, and the party must decide quickly on its future leadership arrangements.
The ministry has not said whether the India visit will be rescheduled or whether other parts of the Asia trip are affected, leaving the coming days of German diplomacy in doubt.
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